Water-tight compartment with removable hatch and two-sided gel seal for multiple conduit access

ABSTRACT

A water-tight or air-tight accessible compartment has a removable hatch sealed at the edge with elastically conformable opposing seals, with elongate communication elements extending into the compartment between the opposing seals, seals conforming to the topology formed between the compartment edge and the elongate communication elements.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application Ser.No. 61/525,489 filed Aug. 19, 2011 entitled WATER-TIGHT COMPARTMENT WITHREMOVABLE HATCH AND TWO-SIDED GEL SEAL FOR MULTIPLE CONDUIT ACCESS, byRonald H. Olch, et al.

BACKGROUND

Aircraft and water vessels (“craft”) containing on-board electronics canrequire accessible water-tight compartments to house, for example,on-board electronic components. As employed herein, the term“water-tight” is understood to refer to resistance to diffusion or flowof liquid or gas molecules through a boundary or envelope, the gas beingoxygen or air, or the liquid being water, for example. Such awater-tight compartment typically is enclosed by a water-proof envelope,and includes a removable hatch that is tightly fastened over the top ofthe compartment. It is desirable that the hatch may be removed andre-installed repeatedly, while attaining a water-tight or air-tight sealwith the compartment upon each re-installation. The outermost surface ofthe hatch is typically flush with the outer surface of the craft, topresent an aerodynamically smooth overall surface. Such a water-tightcompartment may have conduits passing between the interior of thewater-tight compartment and other locations on the craft external of thewater-tight compartment. Each conduit may accommodate various wires,fiber optic cables and tubes. This enables communication between theelectronics contained inside the water-tight compartment and otherelements on the craft. Each such conduit must penetrate the water-proofenvelope of the water-tight compartment, and therefore entails a risk ofleakage around the interface between the conduit and the water-proofenvelope. This is particularly true in cases where a water landing coolsthe interior of the water-tight compartment, thereby creating a vacuumthat pulls moisture in through any small voids that may exist at theinterface between the water-proof envelope and any of the conduitspassing through the water-proof envelope. Such problems can be addressedby using a special mechanical seal fitting at each one of the conduits.Such an approach may be undesirable due to the complexity, cost andweight entailed in such mechanical seal fittings. What is needed is away of preventing leakage through the water-tight envelope around thevarious conduits without requiring special mechanical seal fittings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An accessible compartment is provided in the body of a craft such as anaircraft or water craft, the body having an exterior body surface, thesealed compartment comprising a side wall and a floor defining acompartment interior, a compartment sealing surface at a top edge of theside wall, and a hatch body with a hatch sealing surface facing thecompartment sealing surface. One or more elongate communication elementslie adjacent the compartment sealing surface and extend into thecompartment interior from locations outside of the compartment interior.A first sealing gasket is between the compartment sealing surface andthe hatch sealing surface and comprises a first elastically conformablelayer. The compartment further includes hatch-to-compartment fasteningstructure. In an embodiment, the first gasket is between the compartmentsealing surface and the elongate communication member, the compartmentfurther comprising a second gasket between the hatch sealing surface andthe elongate communication member, the second gasket comprising a secondelastically conformable layer. In an embodiment, a first non-adhesivelayer covers the first elastically conformable layer and a secondnon-adhesive layer covers the second elastically conformable layer. Inan embodiment, a sloped portion of the compartment sealing surface and asloped portion of the hatch sealing surface are ramped with respect toeach other so as to open away from each other along a direction awayfrom the compartment interior. In an embodiment, the conformablematerial has a conformability corresponding to an exclusion size on theorder of a liquid molecule or a gas molecule. In an embodiment, thegasket comprises an underlying gasket attached to the compartmentsealing surface and an overlying gasket attached to the hatch sealingsurface.

In accordance with another aspect, an accessible sealable compartment ina body having an exterior body surface comprises a compartment interiorand a compartment sealing edge adjacent a top edge of the compartmentinterior; a hatch body having a hatch sealing surface congruent with andfacing the compartment sealing surface; and a pair of interlockinggaskets comprising a first interlocking gasket on the compartmentsealing edge and a second interlocking gasket on the hatch sealing edge,the first and second interlocking gaskets comprising an elasticallydeformable material. In an embodiment, the compartment further comprisesone or more channels in the compartment sealing edge and underlying thefirst interlocking gasket, the channels being in communication with thecompartment interior; and one or more elongate communication membershaving respective portions lying in the respective channels, theelongate communication members extending into the compartment interiorfrom locations outside of the compartment interior. In an embodiment,the compartment further comprises a sealing gasket in each channelsurrounding the respective elongate communication member, the sealinggasket comprising an elastically conformable material. In an embodiment,the sealing gasket comprises a first gasket underlying the elongatecommunication member and a second gasket overlying the elongatecommunication member. In an embodiment, the elastically conformablematerial comprises a viscous gel. In an embodiment, the elasticallyconformable material has a conformability corresponding to an exclusionsize on the order of a liquid molecule such as water or a gas moleculesuch as oxygen. In an embodiment, the channel has a width correspondingto a diameter of the elongate communication member. In an embodiment,one of the interlocking gaskets comprises a pair of elongate outwardlyextending barbs and the other of the interlocking gaskets comprises apair of elongate inwardly extending barbs matable with the pair ofelongate outwardly extending barbs.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the exemplary embodiments of the presentinvention are attained and can be understood in detail, a moreparticular description of the invention, briefly summarized above, maybe had by reference to the embodiments thereof which are illustrated inthe appended drawings. It is to be appreciated that certain well knownprocesses are not discussed herein in order to not obscure theinvention.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a sealable compartment including aremovable hatch, in accordance with an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the compartment of FIG. 1 on the wing ofan aircraft.

FIG. 3A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the compartment of FIG.1.

FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional side view corresponding to FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a cross-sectional perspective view of the removable hatch ofFIG. 1.

FIG. 4B is a side view corresponding to FIG. 4A.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a layered structure of a sealing gasketin the embodiment of FIG. 1.

FIG. 6 is a cut-away side view of portion of an assembly of thecompartment and removable hatch of FIG. 1.

FIG. 7A is a cut-away end view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 1 inthe vicinity of a channel and elongate communication element before theremovable hatch is fully pressed to the compartment.

FIG. 7B is a cut-away end view of a portion of the assembly of FIG. 1 inthe vicinity of a channel and elongate communication element when theremovable hatch is fully pressed to the compartment.

FIG. 7C is a side view corresponding to FIG. 7B.

FIG. 8 is a side cross-sectional view corresponding to FIG. 7A.

FIG. 9 is a plan view corresponding to FIG. 1.

FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 10-10 of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 11-11 of FIG. 10.

FIG. 12A is a cut-away end view of a second embodiment in a partiallydisassembled state.

FIG. 12B is a cross-sectional view taken along lines 12B-12B of FIG.12A.

FIG. 12C is a perspective view corresponding to FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12D is a cut-away side view corresponding to FIG. 12A.

FIG. 12E is a cut-away side view corresponding to FIG. 12C of the secondembodiment in an assembled state.

FIG. 13 is a cut-away end view depicting the embodiment of FIG. 12A in apartially assembled state.

FIG. 14 is a cut-away end view depicting the embodiment of FIG. 12A in afully assembled state.

FIG. 15 is a top view corresponding to FIG. 14.

To facilitate understanding, identical reference numerals have beenused, where possible, to designate identical elements that are common tothe figures. It is contemplated that elements and features of oneembodiment may be beneficially incorporated in other embodiments withoutfurther recitation. It is to be noted, however, that the appendeddrawings illustrate only exemplary embodiments of this invention and aretherefore not to be considered limiting of its scope, for the inventionmay admit to other equally effective embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1 is an orthographic view of a surface 100 of a craft (such as anaircraft or vessel) having a water-tight compartment 105 sealed inaccordance with one embodiment described below in greater detail. Aremovable hatch 110 provides access to the compartment 105 for servicingvarious electronic components 115 contained in the compartment 105. FIG.2 depicts an example of how the compartment 105 and hatch 110 may beprovided on the wing of an aircraft 120. The external surface of thehatch 110 is flush with the surface of the wing. The compartmentinterior is defined by a floor 125 and a sidewall 130. The sidewall 130is surrounded by a shoulder 135 whose surface is depressed below theouter surface 100 to form a step 140. The surface of the shoulder 135forms an elongate strip that follows the outline of the compartment 105.In the illustrated embodiment, the compartment 105 is generallyrectangular, and the surface of the shoulder 135 forms a rectangularannulus. If the compartment 105 were circular or ellipsoidal, then theshoulder 135 would be in the shape of a circular or ellipsoidal annulus,for example. The height and shape of the step 140 matches (orapproximately matches) the thickness of outer edge 110 a of the hatch110. Referring to the enlarged view of FIG. 3A, the shoulder 135 isdivided into an outer surface or strip 150 and an inner surface or strip155 depressed below the outer surface 150 to form a ridge 160 betweenthem. As will be explained later in this specification, the ridge 160exists because the inner surface 155 is ramped relative to the outersurface 150. The ridge 160 is a generally vertical surface facing theinterior of the compartment 105. In the illustrated embodiment, theouter and inner surfaces 150, 155 are each a generally rectangularannulus, in accordance with the shape of the shoulder 135. Pluralfastener openings 162 are provided through the outer surface 150 of theshoulder 135.

The body of the craft forming the surface 100 and the surfaces of thefloor 125 and the sidewall 130 may be formed of a composite materialsuch as a molecular fiber matrix and fiberglass composite, which may bea Kevlar® material. Kevlar® is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pontde Nemours and Company, of Wilmington, Del. and the Kevlar® material isoffered through a website of that corporation. Such a material may bewater penetrable. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 3B, a thin waterprooflayer or film 165 is deposited on the interior surfaces of thecompartment, including the floor 125 and sidewall 130, so that the layer165 adheres to the underlying surfaces. This seals the floor 125 andside wall 130 of the compartment 105. The film 165 may possibly extendover the top of the sidewall 130 and onto the interior surface 155 ofthe shoulder 135. Otherwise, the film 165 may extend to the top edge ofthe sidewall 130. The film 165 functions as a water-proof envelope ofthe compartment 105 and may be formed of a complaint material such asSurlyn® material. Surlyn® is a registered trademark of E. I. du Pont deNemours and Company, of Wilmington, Del. and the Surlyn® material isoffered through a website of that corporation.

Referring again to FIG. 3A, conduits for wires, optical fibers, tubes orthe like passing into the compartment 105 are accommodated by channels170 formed in the outer and inner surfaces 150, 155 of the shoulder 135.Each individual channel 170 is transverse to the path of the shoulder135 and may be sized to accommodate a single elongate communicationelement. Each elongate communication element 171 may be a flexiblemember such as a wire conductor, optical fiber, tube, conduit or thelike. For example, the depth of each channel 170 may be about one halfof the diameter or thickness of the elongate communication element 171to be accommodated. As will be described below in this specification,the hatch 110 has similar channels in registration with the channels 170in the shoulder 135, each channel in the hatch 110 having a similardepth. While FIG. 3A depicts examples in which the flexible members 171are elongate and/or cylindrical, the flexible members may be wide andplanar in shape, such as a ribbon cable, or flat rectangular items suchas flex circuits as well as single-conductor cables, tubes, and thelike. In each case, the channels are shaped appropriately, to becongruent with the wide planar shape as required.

Ingress of the elongate communication element 171 into the body of thecraft is provided by an internal passageway 172 terminated at a hole oropening 173 in the vertical wall of the step 140. The opening 173 of theinternal passageway 172 is in registration with the channel 170.Respective internal passageways 172 and holes 173 are provided for therespective channels 170, as depicted in FIG. 3A. Each hole 173 has adiameter of about twice the depth of the channel, and the channel 170 isaligned with the bottom half of the hole 173. As will be described belowin this specification, the top half of the hole 173 faces acorresponding channel in the hatch 110.

Referring to FIG. 4A, the interior surface of the hatch 110 has astructure mirroring the structure of the compartment 105 described abovewith reference to FIG. 3A. Specifically, the hatch edge 110 a surroundsa hatch shoulder 235 formed in the interior (bottom) surface of thehatch 110, the shoulder 235 of the hatch 110 being congruent with theshoulder 135 of the compartment 105. The shoulder 235 is divided into anouter surface or strip 250 and an inner surface or strip 255 depressedbelow the outer surface 250 to form a ridge 260 between them. The ridge260 is a generally vertical surface facing the interior of thecompartment 105. The outer surface 250 accommodates fastener openings262. Fasteners 263, such as threaded screws, may pass through theopenings 262 in the hatch 110 and be threadably engaged in the openings162 in the body of the compartment 105, as seen in FIG. 1.

The body of the hatch 110 may be formed of a composite material such asa molecular fiber matrix and fiberglass composite. Such a material maybe water penetrable. Therefore, as shown in FIG. 4B, a thin waterprooflayer or film 265 is deposited on the interior surfaces of the hatch 110so that the film 265 adheres to the underlying surfaces. The film 265may possibly extend onto the interior surface 255 of the shoulder 235.Otherwise, the film 265 may extend to the inner edge of the innersurface 255. The film 265 functions as a part of a water-proof envelopeof the compartment 105 when the hatch 110 is fastened in place over thecompartment 105 and may be formed of a compliant material such as theSurlyn® material referred to above.

Referring again to FIG. 4A, conduits for elongate communication elements171 passing into the compartment 105 are accommodated by channels 270formed in the outer and inner surfaces 250, 255 of the shoulder 235 ofthe hatch 110. Each individual channel 270 is in registration with acorresponding channel 170 in the shoulder 135 of the compartment 105 ofFIG. 3A, and the corresponding channels match one another in size. Forexample, the depth of each channel 270 may be slightly less than aboutone half of the diameter or thickness of the elongate communicationelement to be accommodated. The channel 170 faces the bottom half of acorresponding one of the holes 173 in the step 140, while the channel270 faces the top half of the corresponding hole 173. Thus, the diameterof the hole 173 may be on the order of about twice the depth of eachchannel 170, 270. The depths of the matching channels 170 and 270 arepreferably the same, so that a conduit or wire accommodated within apair of facing channels 170, 270 experiences a top-to-bottom evendistribution of pressure when the hatch 110 is fastened onto the top ofthe compartment 105.

Referring again to FIG. 3A, a sealing gasket 300 comprising a highlyconformable layer such as a silicone gel is laid over the inner surface155. Referring to FIG. 4A, an identical sealing gasket 300′ is laid overthe inner surface 255 of the hatch 110. The sealing gaskets 300, 300′may be of a highly conformable or viscous material, such as a highlyconformable silicone gel material. Such a seal is sold by Dow CorningCorporation of Midland, Mich. under the product name “Dow Corning gelseal”, specifically the gel seal 1030 product. The structure of such aseal or gasket is depicted in FIG. 5, and includes a gel layer 400 of aviscous or highly conformable and adhesive gel material, a non-adhesivetop layer 405 formed of an open-cell foam material, for example.Optionally, an adhesive backing may be provided as a bottom layer 410.The non-adhesive top layer 405 enables the hatch 110 to be removed fromthe compartment 105. As shown in FIG. 6, for the sealing gasket 300, thetop non-adhesive layer 405 covers the gel layer 400 and is the exposedsurface of the gasket 300, and the adhesive backing layer 410 contactsthe inner surface 155. For the sealing gasket 300′, a top non-adhesivelayer 405′ covers a gel layer 400′ and is the exposed surface of thegasket 300′, and an adhesive backing layer 410′ contacts the innersurface 255. The non-adhesive layers 405 and 405′ enables the hatch tobe removed from the compartment by preventing the two sealing gaskets300 and 300′ from bonding together. This is because the foam layers 405and 405′ will not adhere to each other as the gel layers 400 and 400′would in absence of the non-adhesive layers 405 and 405′.

It is believed that the ability of the gel layers 400 and 400′ to form aperfect water-tight or air-tight seal in a confined space with cornersand edges is attributable to its ductility. A measure of its ductilityis the elongation of the material. The Dow Corning gel seal material isbelieved to have an elongation of 150% or greater. Thus, in one aspect,the gel layers 400 and 400′ may be formed of a deformable materialhaving an elongation of at least 150% or greater.

Referring to FIG. 6, the ridge 160 acts as a positioning reference forthe gasket 300, resisting migration of the gasket 300 toward theperiphery. The ridge 260 acts as a positioning reference for the gasket300′, resisting migration of the gasket 300′ toward the periphery. Theheight of the ridge 160 determines the distance by which the gasket 300is compressed when the hatch 110 is fastened over the compartment 105.The compression distance is the difference between the thickness of thegasket 300 and the height of the ridge 160. The height of the ridge 260determines the distance by which the gasket 300′ is compressed when thehatch 110 is fastened over the compartment 105. The compression distanceis the difference between the thickness of the gasket 300′ and theheight of the ridge 260.

Referring to FIGS. 7A and 7B, it is believed that the conformability ofeach sealing gasket 300, 300′ is so great that, as the hatch 110 iscompressed toward the compartment 105 (FIG. 7A), firmly pressing theopposing surfaces together (FIG. 7B), the sealing gaskets 300, 300′ fillin spaces or voids between the elongate communication element 171 andthe interior surfaces of the channels 170, 270, so that there remains novoids of a sufficiently large size for a molecule of a gas (e.g.,oxygen) or of a liquid (e.g., water) to pass through. The ability ofeach sealing gasket 300, 300′ to conform to (and fill) the volumedefined between the elongate communication element 171 and the interiorsurfaces of the facing channel 170, 270 is referred to herein as theconformability of the gaskets 300 and 300′. The conformability may bedefined by the size of the smallest molecule excluded by the seal formedby the gaskets 300 and 300′ around the elongate communication element171. This size may be referred to as the exclusion size, andcharacterizes the conformability of the material comprised within thegaskets 300, 300′. In one embodiment, the exclusion size is equal to orsmaller than the size of a water molecule, so that the seal formed bythe gaskets 300 and 300′ is water-tight. In another embodiment, theexclusion size is equal to or smaller than the size of an oxygen gasmolecule, so that the seal is air-tight. Optionally, the water-tightnessor air-tightness may be exhibited for a limited period of time (forexample, a matter of hours in a range of one to 24 hours), which mayvary depending upon the requirements of the system designer. Or, thewater-tightness of air-tightness is exhibited for an undefined(unlimited) period of time.

The gel layer 400 and the non-adhesive top layer 405 fill the voidssurrounding each elongate communication element 171 by deformingelastically. Such elastic deformation enables each gasket 300, 300′ torelax whenever the hatch 110 is removed and to again conformability fillthe voids surrounding each conduit when the hatch 110 is re-installed,so that the hatch may be removed and re-installed repetitively to attaina perfect seal upon each re-installation of the hatch 110 over thecompartment 105.

High conformability, with exclusion size on the order of a watermolecule or oxygen gas molecule, is exhibited by a silicone gelmaterial, such as the Dow Corning gel seal material referred to above.In one embodiment, the sealing gaskets 300 and 300′ are each strips ofDow Corning gel seal 3010 material referred to above. However, any othersuitable material satisfying the elastic conformability defined abovemay be employed for the gaskets 300 and 300′.

Referring still to FIGS. 7A and 7B, the deformation of the gaskets 300and 300′ around the elongate communication element 171 is determined bythe respective depths of the channels 170 and 270. In an embodiment,each pair of facing channels 170, 270 are of the same depth, so that theopposing compressive forces of the gaskets 300, 300′ against theelongate communication element 171 are the same. The distance by whichthe gaskets 300 and 300′ are compressed around the elongatecommunication element 171 corresponds to the difference between thediameter (or thickness) of the elongate communication element 171 andthe sum of the depths of the opposing channels 170 and 270.

In order to prevent migration of the gaskets 300, 300′ toward theinterior of the compartment 105, the inner surfaces 155, 255 are eachsloped at an angle of about 5 degrees in opposite slopes so that the twosurfaces 155, 255 ramp away from each other at a combined angle of 10degree's in a radially outward direction, i.e., toward the periphery orstep 140, as shown in the cross-sectional view of FIG. 8. The ramp angleof each of the inner surfaces 155, 255 may not necessarily be 5 degrees,but may lie in an appropriate range (e.g., from about 1 to 10 degrees).The ramp angle of the compartment inner surface 155 determines theheight of the ridge 160. The ramp angle of the hatch inner surface 255determines the height of the ridge 260. The gaskets 300, 300′ areconfined against migration in an inward direction toward the interior ofthe compartment 105 by the oppositely sloped inner surfaces 155, 255,and are confined against migration in the opposite (outward) directionby the ridges 160, 260. The ridges 160, 260 thus perform two functions,in that their heights determine the degree to which the gaskets 300,300′ are compressed upon closure of the hatch 110 over the compartment105, and because they block migration of the gaskets 300, 300′ in theoutward direction.

As the hatch 110 pushes the viscous gaskets 300, 300′ down the 5 degreeramps of the facing inner surfaces 155 and 255, the gaskets 300, 300′are wedged tighter into corners formed between the elongatecommunication element 171 and interior surfaces of the pair of facingchannels 170 and 270, while the gaskets 300 and 300′ are prevented frommigrating toward or into the compartment 105. As depicted in FIG. 7C, ifthe compartment 105 experiences a vacuum, the hatch 110 deflects in sucha manner that the oppositely ramped inner surfaces 155, 255 become evenmore sloped relative to one another, thereby pushing the gaskets 300,300′ more tightly into any corners or voids formed between the elongatecommunication element 171 and the interior surfaces of the pair offacing channels 170, 270, thus enhancing the sealing action of thegaskets 300, 300′ in opposing the forces of such a vacuum.

A plan view of the closed assembly is shown in FIG. 9. FIGS. 10 and 11are cross-sectional views taken at different locations noted in FIG. 9.

Referring now to FIG. 12A, the fasteners 263 and fastener holes 162 and262 of FIG. 1 may be replaced by a pair of interlocking gaskets, namelya bottom interlocking gasket 500 bonded to the surface of the shoulder135 of the compartment 105, and a top interlocking gasket 550 bonded tothe surface of the shoulder 235 of the hatch 110. The pair ofinterlocking gaskets 500 and 550 eliminate the need for the gel sealgaskets 300 and 300′ and the associated fasteners of the embodimentsdescribed above. The shoulders 135 and 235 may be continuously flat andnot sloped. In the illustrated embodiment, the bottom interlockinggasket 500 includes a base 505 having a bottom surface or a bottomadhesion layer 507 bonded to the surface of the shoulder 135. The bottominterlocking gasket 500 further includes a pair of ridges 510, 512extending from the base 505 and separated by an inner gap 514. The ridge510 is formed with a barb 520 pointed outwardly with respect to the gap514, while the ridge 512 is formed with a barb 530 pointed outwardlywith respect to the gap 514 and in a direction opposite to that of thebarb 520. In the illustrated embodiment, the top interlocking gasket 550includes a base 555 having a bottom surface or a bottom adhesion layer557 bonded to the surface of the shoulder 235 of the hatch 110. The topinterlocking gasket 550 further includes a pair of ridges 560, 562extending from the base 555 in a direction toward the bottominterlocking gasket 500, and separated by an inner gap 564. A centeralignment nub 575 may be provided in the gap 564. The ridge 560 isformed with a barb 565 pointed inwardly toward the gap 564, while theridge 562 is formed with a barb 570 pointed inwardly toward the gap 564and in a direction opposite to that of the barb 565. The ridges 510,512, 560 and 562 are terminated at respective apexes 510 a, 512 a, 560 aand 562 a defined by respective ramped surfaces 510 b, 512 b, 560 b and562 b that slope downwardly from the respective apex 510 a, 512 a, 560 aand 562 a to the respective barb 520, 530, 565 and 570. As justdescribed, in this embodiment, the bottom interlocking gasket 500 has apair of outwardly facing barbs 520, 530 and the top interlocking gasket550 has a pair of inwardly facing barbs 565, 570. However, in anotherembodiment this arrangement is reversed, so that the bottom interlockinggasket 500 has a pair of inwardly facing barbs while the topinterlocking gasket 550 has a pair of outwardly facing barbs.

In an embodiment, the top and bottom interlocking gaskets 500, 550, areintegrally formed of an elastically deformable waterproof material. Thisenables the respective ridges 510, 512, 560, 562 to deform in directionsopposite to the directions of their respective barbs 520, 530, 565 and570 whenever the opposing pair of ramped surfaces 510 b, 562 b and theopposing pair of ramped surfaces 512 b, 560 b are pressed together, asshown in FIG. 13, until the opposing barbs capture one another andbecome locked together, as shown in FIG. 14. FIG. 15 is a plan viewcorresponding to FIG. 14. In the configuration of FIGS. 14 and 15, thehatch 110 is firmly fastened in place over the compartment 105, theinterlocking gaskets 500, 550 providing a watertight seal, impervious topenetration by certain gas species (e.g., oxygen gas) or certain liquidspecies (e.g., water) or both. Because of the elastically deformableproperty of the interlocking gaskets 500, 550, the foregoing deformationsequence may be reversed to remove the hatch 110 from its lockedposition over the compartment 105. Such installation and removal of thehatch 110 may be repeated over many cycles, without requiring screws orthe like.

Elongate communication elements, such as conduits, wires, tubes oroptical fibers, communicating between the compartment 105 and otherlocations on the craft are accommodated with the interlocking gaskets500, 550 by providing a channel 600 in the surface of the shoulder 135for each elongate communication element, as shown in FIGS. 12A, 12B and12C. Each channel 600 faces a matching hole or passage 602 open at thesurface of the step 140, the passage 602 providing a path to otherlocations on the craft for a wire or conduit held in the channel 600. Asindicated in FIGS. 12C and 12D, the channels 600 are formed, andelongate communication elements 610 are laid in the respective channels600 prior to the installation or bonding of the bottom interlockinggasket 500 onto the shoulder 135. The channels 600 may be narrow, on theorder of the diameter of the elongate communication elements, so as tonot detract from the structural integrity of the body 100 in thevicinity of the base of the first interlocking gasket 500. As depictedin FIGS. 12C and 12D, a bottom gasket 620 is placed under the conduit610 while a top gasket 630 is placed over the conduit 610 when theconduit 610 is placed in the channel 600. Thereafter, the bottominterlocking gasket 500 is pressed and bonded onto the surface of theshoulder 135, thereby compressing the bottom and top gaskets 620, 630around the conduit 610 and covering each channel 600. Each gasket 620,630 is formed of (or includes) a material of high conformability, suchas (for example) the Dow Corning gel seal material referred topreviously herein. As shown in FIG. 12E, the gaskets 620, 630 fill voidsbetween the conduit or wire 610 and the interior surfaces of the channel600, thereby providing a seal around the conduit or wire 610 that isimpenetrable by either a liquid (e.g., water) or a gas (e.g., oxygen).The interlocking gaskets 500, 550 are elongate and mutually parallel,while the channels 600 are elongate and mutually parallel but transverseto the elongate interlocking gaskets 500, 550. In the illustratedembodiment, the channels 600 are transverse or perpendicular to the pathof the interlocking gaskets 500, 550.

FIG. 12C shows the path of cable 610 and the seals 620 and 630perpendicular to the gasket 500. However, the path of cable 610 and theseals 620 and 630 can be parallel to the gasket 500.

While the foregoing is directed to embodiments of the present invention,other and further embodiments of the invention may be devised withoutdeparting from the basic scope thereof, and the scope thereof isdetermined by the claims that follow.

1.-19. (canceled)
 20. An accessible sealable compartment in a bodyhaving an exterior body surface, and comprising: a compartment interiorand a compartment sealing edge adjacent a top edge of said compartmentinterior; a hatch body having a hatch sealing surface congruent with andfacing said compartment sealing surface; a hatch-to-compartmentfastening structure; a gasket between said compartment sealing edge andsaid hatch sealing edge, said gasket comprising a viscous gel material;at least one elongate communication member having a portion lyingbetween said compartment sealing edge and said hatch sealing edge, saidat least one elongate communication member extending into saidcompartment interior from a location outside of said compartmentinterior.
 21. The compartment of claim 20 wherein said viscous gelmaterial has an elongation of 150% or greater.
 22. The compartment ofclaim 20 wherein said viscous gel material has a conformabilitycorresponding to an exclusion size on the order of one of: (a) a liquidmolecule, (b) a gas molecule.
 23. The compartment of claim 22 whereinone of: (a) said liquid molecule is a water molecule, or (b) said gasmolecule is one of an oxygen gas molecule, a nitrogen gas molecule or acarbon dioxide molecule.
 24. The compartment of claim 21 wherein saidgasket comprises an underlying gasket attached to said compartmentsealing surface and an overlying gasket attached to said hatch sealingsurface.
 25. An accessible sealable compartment in a body having anexterior body surface, and comprising: a compartment interior and acompartment sealing edge adjacent a top edge of said compartmentinterior; a hatch body having a hatch sealing surface congruent with andfacing said compartment sealing surface; a pair of interlocking gasketscomprising a first interlocking gasket on said compartment sealing edgeand a second interlocking gasket on said hatch sealing edge, said firstand second interlocking gaskets comprising an elastically deformablematerial.
 26. The compartment of claim 25 further comprising: at leastone channel in said compartment sealing edge and underlying said firstinterlocking gasket, said channel in communication with said compartmentinterior; at least one elongate communication member having a portionlying in said at least one channel, said at least one elongatecommunication member extending into said compartment interior from alocation outside of said compartment interior.
 27. The compartment ofclaim 26 further comprising a sealing gasket in said channel andsurrounding said at least one elongate communication member, saidsealing gasket comprising an elastically conformable material.
 28. Thecompartment of claim 27 wherein said sealing gasket comprises a firstgasket underlying said elongate communication member and a second gasketoverlying said elongate communication member.
 29. The compartment ofclaim 27 wherein said elastically conformable material comprises aviscous gel.
 30. The compartment of claim 27 wherein said elasticallyconformable material has a conformability corresponding to an exclusionsize on the order of one of: (a) a liquid molecule, (b) a gas molecule.31. The compartment of claim 30 wherein one of: (a) said liquid moleculeis a water molecule, or (b) said gas molecule is one of an oxygen gasmolecule, a nitrogen gas molecule or a carbon dioxide molecule.
 32. Thecompartment of claim 27 wherein said elastically conformable materialhas an elongation of 150% or greater.
 33. The compartment of claim 27wherein said channel has a width corresponding to a diameter of saidelongate communication member.
 34. The compartment of claim 27 furthercomprising plural channels in said compartment sealing surfaceunderlying said first interlocking gasket and plural elongatecommunication members in said plural channels, and plural sealinggaskets in said plural channels and surrounding said plural elongatecommunication members.
 35. The compartment of claim 25 wherein firstinterlocking gasket comprises elongate inwardly extending barbs and saidsecond interlocking gasket comprises elongate outwardly extending barbsmatable with said elongate inwardly extending barbs.
 36. The compartmentof claim 25 wherein first interlocking gasket comprises elongateoutwardly extending barbs and said second interlocking gasket compriseselongate inwardly extending barbs matable with said pair of elongateoutwardly extending barbs.
 37. A water-tight or air-tight accessiblecompartment comprising a compartment body with a compartment interiorand a removable hatch sealed at an edge thereof to an edge of thecompartment interior with elastically conformable opposing seals, withelongate communication elements extending into the compartment interiorbetween the opposing seals, said seals conforming to the topology formedbetween the compartment edge and the elongate communication elements.38. The compartment of claim 37 wherein said seals comprise materialhaving an elongation of 150% or greater.
 39. The compartment of claim37, wherein said compartment body comprises a sealing surface comprisinga sloped portion, and wherein said removable hatch comprises a sealingsurface comprising a sloped portion, and wherein said sloped portion ofsaid sealing surface of said compartment and said sloped portion of saidsealing surface of said hatch are ramped with respect to each other soas to open away from each other along a direction away from saidcompartment interior.